Metrics
Useful Metric Conversions for the
mathematically challenged
1 trillion microphones = 1 megaphone
1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche
1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin
10 rations = 1 decoration
10 millipedes = 1 centipede
3 1/3 tridents = 1 decadent
2 monograms = 1 diagram
8 nickels = 2 paradigms
2 wharves = 1 paradox
Metric Units
• Volume: How much space something takes,
measured in Liters, milliliters (cm3).
• Mass(weight): measured in grams,
milligrams or kilograms.
• Length: measured in meters, millimeters, or
centimeters.
Metric Multiples
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kilo-K
Hecta-H
Deka-Dk
Base unit= m, L, g
Deci-d
Centi-c
Milli-m
Metric Multiples
• km Hm dkm
m
dm
cm
mm
• To change metric units, simple move the
decimal place along the scale from one unit
to another. 25 meters becomes 2500
centimeters.
Density: the mass (grams)
divided by the volume
(milliliters): D = m/v
• Find D for:
• A piece of cork that displaces 2 ml water
weighs .41 grams. (.205 g/ml)
• A rock that displaces 10 ml water has a
weight of 30 grams. (3 g/ml)
• A chunk of ice which has a volume of 25 ml
weighs 23 grams. (.91 g/ml)
Metric Multiples
• The great advantage of using
metric units is that they are in
multiples of ten. This means
that you can simply move
decimal points to go from
one unit to another!
Metric Conversions
• 23.5 g to mg (23,500 mg)
• 435.7 ml to L (.4357 L)
• .223 km to m ?
• 22.57 cm to m
• 450.3 L to ml
• 45 mg to g
Specific Gravity: the density
divided by the density of 1 ml
water.
• Find the specific gravity of:
• A piece of cork that displaces 2 ml water
and weighs .41 grams. (SG = .205)
• A rock that displaces 10 ml water and has a
weight of 30 grams.
• A chunk of ice which has a volume of 25 ml
and weighs 23 grams.
Base Ten Exponents
• The exponents you will use in this
class represent numbers which have
the number of decimal places in the
exponent 100 = 1; 101 = 10; 102 = 100
• Positive exponents push the decimal
place to the right: 2.35 x 103 is 2,350
• Negative exponents push the decimal
place to the left: 2.35 x 10-3 is .00235
Exponent Calculations
• When multiplying exponential
numbers, multiply the first two,
then add the exponents: 1.2 x 103
x 1.2 x 103 = 1.44 x 106
• When dividing exponential
numbers, divide the first two, then
subtract the exponents:
• 1.2 x 103 / 1.2 x 103 = 1.0 x 100 =1
Exponent Calculations
• To add exponents, move the decimal place
to get the same exponents, then add the
numbers, keeping the exponent. 1 x 102 + 1
x 103 = 1 x 102 + 10 x 102 = 11 x 102
• To subtract exponents, move the decimal
place to get the same exponents, then
subtract the numbers, keeping the exponent.
1 x 103 - 1 x 102 =
10 x 102 - 1 x 102 = 9 x 102
Try These!
• 1.5 x
+ 2.7 x
=
• 2.33 x 1012 – 1.85 x 1015 =
24
22
• 9.95 x 10 / 1.156 x 10 =
19
12
• 3.233 x 10 x 2.76 x 10 =
7
10
4
10
The End